Written Answers

Wednesday 17 May 2000

Scottish Executive

Beef

Alex Johnstone (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it was consulted by the Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food about Her Majesty's Government’s approach to the French ban on British beef and, if so, what view it expressed.

Ross Finnie: I apologise for the delay in replying to this question; this was due to an administrative error.

  At the time of discussions with French officials regarding exports of British beef to France, Scottish Ministers and their officials were at all times in regular contact with their opposite numbers in Whitehall. They were actively involved in determining the UK response to the French ban and participated in the relevant discussions in Brussels. When consulted the Scottish Executive at all times expressed full support for the approach taken by Her Majesty’s Government.

  As the member will be aware, the discussions failed to resolve the problem, and the French Government maintained their ban on British beef. A prosecution case against the French Government for failure to implement the relevant Commission Decisions is now with the European Court of Justice.

Cancer

Alex Fergusson (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what is (a) the average time between referral and start of treatment and (b) the maximum waiting time for lung cancer patients in each of the five cancer centres in the last year.

Susan Deacon: Cancer is one of the three clinical priorities for the NHS in Scotland. Waiting times for investigation and treatment are a high priority within the Scottish Cancer Group’s work programme.

  Initial treatment for lung cancer can take place in either an outpatient or inpatient setting. Centrally available information does not identify cases where treatment starts in an outpatient setting.

  Information on the time between a patient being placed on the waiting list for treatment for lung cancer and their admission to hospital is available centrally, and the median waiting time for the five main cancer centres, in the year to 31 December 1999, is given in the table.

  The Scottish Executive is currently working with the NHS in Scotland to establish national, maximum waiting times, to be delivered by March 2001, in the clinical priorities of cancer, heart disease and mental health.

  NHS in Scotland: Median Waiting Time For Hospital Admission For Treatment For Lung Cancer: Year Ended 31 December 1999.

  


Location of Treatment


Median Wait (Days)




Aberdeen Royal Infirmary


6




Ninewells Hospital, Dundee


11




Raigmore Hospital, Inverness


3




Western General Hospital, Edinburgh


7




Western Infirmary, Glasgow


7




  Source: ISD, Scotland.

Cancer

Kay Ullrich (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which health boards prescribed Taxol and Taxotere to cancer patients during the last 12 months.

Susan Deacon: This information is not held centrally. The treatment of patients with cancer is a matter for specialists experienced in the management of cancer. The question of whether individual patients might benefit from treatment with Taxol and Taxotere is a matter for the clinical judgement of the specialist concerned, informed by up-to-date advice and evidence regarding the particular treatments.

Cancer

Kay Ullrich (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, of the health boards which prescribed Taxol and Taxotere to cancer patients in the last 12 months, which had the cost borne by the NHSiS, as opposed to through clinical trials conducted by the pharmaceutical industry.

Susan Deacon: This information is not held centrally.

Community Care

Kay Ullrich (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to provide financial assistance to local authorities to meet any shortfall between income generated from performance of the statutory responsibility to carry out inspection and registration of residential care homes and the costs incurred in the process.

Iain Gray: As of 1 April 2000 the maximum fees that local authorities are able to charge residential care homes for the registration and inspection services they provide have been increased significantly. This should help authorities narrow the gap between income and cost. Fee levels, and the possibility of further increases, will be kept under review.

  Local authorities can also use GAE for social work services to help provide registration and inspection services. GAE has risen to over £1.1 billion for 2000-01, which represents a £43 million (4%) increase on 1999-2000.

  Subject to parliamentary approval, the establishment of the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care in 2001 will mean statutory responsibility for the registration and inspection of residential care homes will pass from local authorities to the Commission.

Community Care

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it currently gives and what support it plans to give in 2001-02 to carers and how it plans to support carers’ groups such as the Relatives Association of Scotland.

Iain Gray: Under our Strategy for Carers in Scotland we are supporting carers through a wide-ranging set of measures. £10 million has been earmarked under the strategy in 2000-01 for carers services, including respite. We expect this to lead to increased services for carers. At least a similar amount will be earmarked in 2001-02. From 1 April the NHS Helpline has been extended to provide advice to carers. A leaflet and associated media campaign was launched on 28 April to inform carers of the strategy and the helpline as sources of advice and assistance. A legislation working group has been set up involving carers’ organisations to consider what legislative changes are required to help carers. In 2001-02 we will continue to ensure the strategy is being implemented and will build on it, if necessary. I recognise that the strategy has implications for voluntary sector organisations representing carers and I am considering the issue of support for this sector.

Employment

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the International Labour Organisation’s unemployment level and rate for Scotland was in each month since May 1999.

Nicol Stephen: Levels and rates of unemployment in Scotland using the International Labour Market definition are published each month by the Office for National Statistics. Their Labour Market Statistics first release for Scotland is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre, or from the Office for National Statistics web site: http://www.ons.gov.uk.

Employment

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to help the community in Unst develop new employment opportunities to replace jobs lost as RAF Saxa Vord is scaled down and what progress has been made to date in this respect.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: The enterprise agencies, funded by the Scottish Executive, are working closely with the community and local partners to assist the development of projects aimed at creating new job opportunities and helping to identify funding opportunities. I am aware that a number of interesting project proposals have emerged, and that the enterprise agencies stand ready to look closely at the case for supporting the best of these.

Employment

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of the Deloitte & Touche Scottish Chambers Business Survey report that the construction industry in the first quarter of 2000 operated at 85.7% capacity and 60% of employers had difficulties recruiting staff, particularly skilled manual workers, and what action it is taking to address this situation.

Henry McLeish: The Executive is aware of the report. There are some longstanding recruitment difficulties within the construction industry which will clearly take time to rectify. Young people are able to train in the construction industry through the Scottish Executive’s youth training programme, Skillseekers, which includes Modern Apprenticeships. Most Skillseekers are employed while training and Local Enterprise Companies make a contribution to the cost of training.

Employment

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis has been undertaken of the skills mix required of the 3,000 additional workers required to carry out the modernisation of stock following the proposed Glasgow housing stock transfer.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The table below sets out an initial analysis of the estimated construction employment arising from a housing transfer in Glasgow. A further 1,400 additional workers are estimated to be required in associated supplier and service industries.

  


Trade


Number


Proportion




Joiners


260


15%




Bricklayers


100


6%




Plumbers


180


11%




Electricians


150


9%




Plasterers


105


6%




Roughcasters


80


5%




Painters


290


17%




Roofers


50


3%




Wall Tilers


75


4%




Scaffolders


110


7%




Labourers


300


18%




Total


1,700


100%

Enterprise

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty’s Government highlighting any potential damage to the Scottish manufacturing sector and impact on Scottish jobs if parallel trading of goods outside the European economic area markets were to be legalised.

Nicol Stephen: Intellectual property protection is a reserved matter. The UK Government has concluded that parallel imports are likely to take market share from existing imports rather than domestic manufacturers. However, discussions are continuing with our European partners. Scottish Executive officials are keeping in touch with the Department of Trade and Industry and the Patent Office on these matters.

Enterprise

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to widen opportunities to learn about business in schools, with particular reference to areas of high unemployment.

Henry McLeish: The Education for Work and Enterprise agenda, promoted by the Scottish Executive, supports a wide range of enterprise education activities aimed at developing links between schools and the world of work. A research project has recently commenced, which will examine the impact of education for work-related activities on disaffected young people.

Environment

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the scientific grounds are on which it designated the River Ythan as a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone.

Sarah Boyack: The Ythan Nitrate Vulnerable Zone has been designated on the basis of criteria set out at Annex IA(3) of the EC Nitrates Directive(91/676/EEC) i.e. that the estuary is eutrophic, or in the near future may become eutrophic.

  During its 1997 review of eutrophic waters the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) concluded that the Ythan estuary met three of the criteria for eutrophication set out in guidance issued by the Scottish Office to regulatory authorities on assessing the eutrophic status of estuaries and coastal waters. These included changes in macrophyte growth, changes in fauna, and elevated nitrate concentrations in the river.

  SEPA also supported the conclusion of its predecessor body, the North East River Purification Board, that agriculture is the main source of nitrate pollution in the Ythan catchment. In these circumstances Article 3 of the Directive requires all known areas of land which drain into the estuary to be designated as an NVZ.

  Additional evidence of high levels of nitrate in the surface waters of the Ythan catchment was reported by SEPA in its 1999 Surface Water Monitoring Report.

Environment

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the current level of nitrates is in the River Ythan, its tributaries and its estuary.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) continues to monitor the River Ythan and its major tributaries. The table summarises the results obtained during 1999 from the lowest monitoring sites on each tributary and from the lowest freshwater monitoring site on the main river. This provides an overall picture of the state of the river and its tributaries.

  


River/Tributary


Sampling location


National Grid 
Reference


Nitrate concentration: 
min. and max. measurements made in 1999 (mg/l)




R. Ythan


Ellon Car Park
(Harmonised Monitoring Site)


NJ 957 303


29.9-41.3




Fordoun Burn


Fyvie Bridge


NJ 761 376


29.0-42.7




Little Water


B9005 Bridge


NJ 842 394


34.4-40.1




Burn of Keithfield


B9005 Bridge


NJ 881 359


25.1-44.6




Raxton Burn


Thornroan


NJ 865 325


24.4-34.5




Ebrie Burn


B9005 Bridge


NJ 923 323


31.3-38.7




Youllie Burn


Hillhead of Ardlethen


NJ 922 305


39.9-51.3




Bronie Burn


Hillhead of Ardlethen


NJ 923 303


26.1-45.5




Forvie Burn


Waulkmill


NK 003 293


17.0-21.4




Tarty Burn


Mill of Tarty


NJ 975 269


16.4-36.5




Foveran Burn


Mill of Newburgh


NJ 998 249


15.9-33.7




Fechel Burn


Mill of Fechel


NJ 868 254


27.7-38.3




  SEPA measures the concentration of nitrate in the Ythan estuary beneath the A975 Bridge at Newburgh. Because the location is tidal, the water sampled varies in salinity - sometimes it is predominantly freshwater, sometimes it is predominantly sea water - and therefore in nitrate concentration. In 1999 concentrations of nitrate in the samples collected from the Bridge at Newburgh ranged from 1.2 to 38.0 mg/l.

  SEPA is continuing to measure nitrate concentrations at all of the above locations.

Environment

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what investigations are ongoing into the causes of Enteromorpha growth in the River Ythan and when a report will be available.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department is currently funding one project in this area. The aim is to develop a protocol for identifying UK Enteromorpha species and to identify those species occurring in the Ythan estuary. The research is also investigating how these species respond to different growing conditions in the laboratory, and will relate this information to why Enteromorpha has become a problem in the Ythan estuary. The work is being carried out jointly by the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh and the University of Dundee and is scheduled to be completed by February 2001.

  Under the Scottish Executive code of practice on access to information, there is a presumption to make reports available to the public when the research is complete. I will arrange for a copy of the final report of this project to be sent to you when it becomes available.

European Charter of Pedestrians’ Rights

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to implement the European Charter of Pedestrians’ Rights adopted by the European Parliament in 1988 and what measures it has taken, or will take, to achieve the aims of the charter.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is not bound to implement Charters adopted by the European Parliament. Nonetheless the Charter is of interest and the Scottish Executive will have regard to it in the development of policies which affect pedestrians.

Health

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, for the years 1997-99, why the percentage of accident and emergency patients (a) triaged within five minutes and (b) seen by a doctor within 90 minutes decreased significantly, and why the median waiting times (i) to see a doctor; (ii) for completion of treatment increased significantly, and what steps it proposes to address these trends.

Susan Deacon: While the March/April 1999 snapshot survey of waiting times in A&E departments in Scotland showed a decline in performance, a subsequent, independent survey undertaken by the Scottish Association of Health Councils in January this year indicated an improvement in waiting times in accident and emergency departments across Scotland in comparison with their previous survey in January 1999.

  On 20 March 2000, the First Minister announced an additional £11 million to provide new and upgraded accident and emergency services across Scotland. These additional funds will be used to support innovative projects, which will improve the patient’s journey through accident and emergency departments and ensure that patients receive the best possible treatment in the quickest possible time.

Health

Kay Ullrich (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice has been given to health boards in terms of the prevention and treatment of hepatitis C virus.

Susan Deacon: I would refer to the answer to question S1W-5478 which highlights the work, commissioned by The Scottish Office from the Scottish Needs Assessment Programme (SNAP), into all aspects of hepatitis C, including prevention and treatment. The report’s conclusions are expected to be published in the summer.

Health

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any health boards refer patients to orthoptists outside the NHS and what the cost is of such referrals by each health board.

Susan Deacon: This information is not held centrally.

Housing

Janis Hughes (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultations it has had with the trade unions involved in the proposed transfer of Glasgow City Council’s housing stock.

Ms Wendy Alexander: I have had a number of discussions with trade union representatives about the Glasgow housing transfer. The framework document published on 10 April is the starting point for tenants, staff, trade unions and others to be fully involved in developing a transfer proposal. The STUC has been invited to nominate a representative to the Interim Management Committee of the Glasgow Housing Association.

Justice

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the conviction rate was for each of the past five years for the crimes of (a) murder, (b) culpable homicide and (c) serious assault.

Mr Jim Wallace: The percentages of prosecutions resulting in a conviction, where the main offence involved was murder, culpable homicide or serious assault, are given in the following table. Serious assault includes crimes classified as attempted murder.

  




 


Year 




1994 


1995 


1996 


1997 


1998 




Number of persons 
prosecuted 




Murder 


57 


79 


73 


52 


55 




Culpable homicide 


43 


47 


63 


46 


30 




Serious assault 


1,508 


1,298 


1,421 


1,485 


1,452 







Percentage with 
a charge proved 




Murder 


67 


58 


77 


77 


75 




Culpable homicide 


91 


91 


92 


98 


87 




Serious assault 


70 


69 


71 


72 


72

Local Government

Nick Johnston (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what number of complaints was made to the Commissioner for Local Administration in each of the past four years and what percentage of these complaints were found proven.

Mr Frank McAveety: Information on this can be found in the Commissioner’s annual reports.

Local Government Finance

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of local authority revenue expenditure came from (a) council tax, (b) non-domestic rate income, (c) specific grants, (d) revenue support grant and (e) any other sources for the years 1996-97 to 1999-2000 inclusive and what the percentages will be in 2000-01.

Mr Jack McConnell: The percentages of local authority revenue expenditure from council tax, non-domestic rate income, specific grants, revenue support grant and other sources from 1996-97 to 2000-01 inclusive are shown in the following table:

  

 

1996-97 


1997-98 


1998-99 


1999-20001


2000-012




Percentages 




Council Tax 


13.3 


14.6 


15.8 


16.0 


16.9 




Non-Domestic Rates 


20.0 


20.2 


20.7 


20.4 


23.2 




Specific Grants 


5.7 


6.1 


6.0 


7.0 


7.4 




Revenue Support Grant 


55.3 


53.0 


51.1 


50.1 


47.5 




Expenditure sourced by other 
income 


5.7 


6.2 


6.4 


6.5 


5.1 




Total Expenditure (£ million) 


6,577.8 


6,567.6 


6,730.41


7,044.41


7,175.52




  Notes:

  1. Based on councils’ provisional outturn figures.

  2. Based on councils’ budgeted expenditure.

Local Government Finance

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4696 by Mr Jack McConnell on 2 May 2000, whether it will provide details of those councils who made representations to the Minister regarding how the local government settlement impacted on them.

Mr Jack McConnell: All councils made representations about elements of the settlement either directly or through the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.

Ministerial Correspondence

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-870 by Donald Dewar on 24 August 1999, what monitoring each department carries out to ensure compliance with the target timescale for responding to letters from MSPs; what overall monitoring takes place, and what procedures exist for MSPs, where targets are not met, to secure a quick reply.

Mr Tom McCabe: All departments of the Scottish Executive have systems in place to monitor performance against targets for all letters due for a ministerial reply. This includes letters from MSPs. Departments also report performance formally through a parliamentary answer.

  To help improve response times, the Executive is improving and standardising the recording, monitoring and workflow systems used to handle ministerial correspondence. The introduction of a new corporate system will enable central scanning, logging and allocation of all ministerial correspondence and will produce management information not readily available at present. This will include information on cases in progress and those overdue. Reports on the handling of MSPs’ correspondence will be available. The introduction of the new system is due to be completed by the end of June 2000.

Modernising Government

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is taking steps to implement the use of digital signatures in government transactions as outlined in the Cabinet Office’s White Paper Modernising Government .

Mr Jack McConnell: Work on this important issue is being taken forward by a UK-level working group on authentication and security, under the Cabinet Office. The Scottish Executive has been involved in, and supports, the work of this group. The draft framework policy guidelines developed by this group are published on the IAG Champions website (www.iagchampions.gov.uk). The Scottish Executive intends to adopt the approach set out in the guidelines, using whichever methods of authentication are appropriate to the type of transaction being delivered, the customer group concerned and the chosen method of electronic delivery. This will include digital signatures where appropriate.

NHS Funding

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the health budget figures for the years 1999-2000 and 2000-01 used to calculate the 7.3% real terms increase referred to by the Minister for Finance in his ministerial statement on 30 March 2000.

Susan Deacon: Health expenditure in Scotland in 2000-01 is planned to be £5,417 million, a real terms increase over the planned expenditure of £4,936 million in 1999-2000 of 7.3%.

NHS Pay

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will conclude its deliberations on NHS contracts and publish its Management of Change procedures for the NHS.

Susan Deacon: NHS pay is a fully devolved matter. The Scottish Executive, along with the other three Health Departments, is taking forward negotiations on Agenda for Change – Modernising the NHS Pay System  on a UK basis.

  No definite timetable for concluding these negotiations has yet been set. However, it is hoped that substantial progress on the main design of a new system can be made over this summer.

Rail Network

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken or proposes to take to maximise any benefit for all of Scotland from the current franchise bidding for the East Coast Rail Line from Aberdeen to Edinburgh.

Sarah Boyack: I refer Mr MacAskill to the reply I gave to question S1W-4514.

Rail Network

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement by the Minister for Transport and the Environment to the Transport and the Environment Committee on 19 January 2000, whether it has the power to issue instructions to the Strategic Rail Authority in respect of what is currently the ScotRail franchise and, if so, whether it will instruct the Strategic Rail Authority to bring forward the renewal of this franchise in order to accelerate investment in Scotland’s railway network and services.

Sarah Boyack: Under the provisions made in the UK Transport Bill, introduced on 1 December 1999, the Scottish Ministers will be able to issue directions and guidance to the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority for passenger rail services that begin and end in Scotland. Since the Bill has not completed its passage through Parliament at Westminister, the Scottish Ministers are not yet able to exercise these powers.

Rail Network

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will place a copy of its submission to Arthur D Little consultants in respect of the review of regional Eurostar services in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Sarah Boyack: I have arranged for the summary report and its appendices to be placed in SPICe.

Rail Network

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the review of regional Eurostar services has been the subject of discussion, at ministerial level, between it and representatives of (a) the Scotland Office or (b) the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Sarah Boyack: European rail services are a reserved matter. During its review of Regional Eurostar for the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, Arthur D. Little consulted officials of the Scottish Executive.

Referendum

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail in what circumstances it believes referenda should be held.

Mr Tom McCabe: Referendums have been used in the United Kingdom in connection with questions of constitutional change, such as membership of the EEC, the establishment of the Scottish Parliament, National Assembly of Wales and the Greater London Assembly. They are not a regular feature of a parliamentary democracy. Primary legislation would be required to provide for the holding of any official referendum.

Rural Affairs

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements are being made for the quinquennial review of the Forest Enterprise Executive Agency.

Mr John Home Robertson: Forest Enterprise manages the Scottish Executive’s 650,000 hectare forest estate in Scotland. It has the same responsibility in England and Wales. As an executive agency, Forest Enterprise is subject to review every five years – part of the process of continuous improvement of Government services promised in the Modernising Government White Paper of March 1999. Forest Enterprise was established as an executive agency on 1 April 1996 and its review has now started. Stage 1 is concerned with getting the organisation right for Scotland as well as for the rest of Britain, and its conclusions will be reported to me and the Forestry Ministers for England and Wales in July. Stage 2, which is concerned with improving the agency’s performance, will be completed in December.

  The review will include wide-ranging consultation with Forest Enterprise’s customers, visitors and other interested parties, who are invited to contact the Secretary to the Forestry Commissioners, at 231 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh EH12 7AT or to visit the Forestry Commission website at www.forestry.gov.uk/fereview.

Scottish Executive Staff

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list, by location, all Scottish Executive and Executive Agency offices, indicating how many employees are employed at each location.

Mr Jack McConnell: I refer Ms Cunningham to my answer to Dr Richard Simpson (S1W-5377) which lists the numbers of Scottish Executive and Executive Agency employees by local authority area. In addition, there are staff in Brussels (12), London (14), Luxembourg (4) and The Scottish Court In The Netherlands (60).

Transport

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its target is for the rate of traffic increase over the next 10 and 20 years nationally and by travel to work area.

Sarah Boyack: The Road Traffic Reduction (National Targets) Act 1998 provides for the setting of a target for road traffic reduction in Scotland.

  In accordance with the provisions of this Act, Scottish Ministers are required to lay before the Scottish Parliament a report on their proposals for the setting of a national road traffic reduction target. This report will be laid before Parliament in December 2000.

Transport

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how the implementation of Road Traffic Reduction (National Targets) Act 1998 is being monitored and whether it will summarise details of any information that has been collated on each individual local authority’s progress.

Sarah Boyack: The Road Traffic Reduction (National Targets) Act 1998 provides for the setting of a target for road traffic reduction in Scotland. It is for the Scottish Ministers to implement, not the local authorities.

  In accordance with the provisions of this Act, Scottish Ministers are required to lay before the Scottish Parliament a report on their proposals for the setting of a national road traffic reduction target. This report will be laid before Parliament in December 2000.

  Local authorities are required under the Road Traffic Reduction Act 1997 to undertake a review of existing and forecast levels of traffic on local roads in their areas and to prepare a report at such times as Scottish Ministers may direct. The 1997 Act has now been commenced in Scotland and local authorities have been directed to submit their first report under the Act by 31 October 2000.

Transport

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can confirm that the funding for the new Kincardine Bridge crossing will not be met in part or in full by a toll being levied on Kincardine Bridge users.

Sarah Boyack: I refer Mr Crawford to the answer I gave Mr Tosh on 17 December (S1W-2969).

Waste Management

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive which agricultural operations will be affected by the National Waste Strategy for Scotland.

Sarah Boyack: One of the main messages of the National Waste Strategy: Scotland is that we need to reconsider, as individuals, how we deal with waste. We must try to apply the waste hierarchy wherever appropriate to reduce, reuse and recycle. Farmers, as producers of waste, will be expected to apply this principle.

  We are committed to bringing non-natural agricultural wastes (pesticide containers, plastics etc.) into the controlled waste management regime. This may result in farmers having to acquire a licence from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) for the handling of these wastes.

  The strategy also identifies agricultural waste as a priority waste stream. This means that it is one of a number of wastes which will be the focus of a research project by SEPA. The research will provide information on the quantities of waste being produced, the treatment or disposal facilities available and the potential for development of alternative methods of treatment. SEPA plans to have completed all the priority waste projects by 2003.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Holyrood Project

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer what unforeseen site conditions have been experienced during the planning period for the Holyrood complex and the period of construction of the substructure and what additional costs have been incurred as a result.

Sir David Steel: During the planning phase of the Holyrood project, geotechnical surveys revealed the presence of rock, subterranean wells and ground water. The design for the substructure of the building took these ground conditions into account, and therefore no additional costs were incurred.

Holyrood Project

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer, further to his answer to question S1W-5936 on 6 April 2000, in respect of each of the 10 separate cost reports referred to in paragraph 4.2 of the Spencely report what was (a) the cost of the substructure element; (b) the total usable space within the substructure; (c) the proportion of this usable space allocated to car parking; (d) the total number of parking spaces to be provided within the substructure, and (e) the total parking provision within the site.

Sir David Steel: The information requested is detailed, I will write to Ms Fabiani shortly and place a copy of the letter in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Holyrood Project

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer, further to his answer to question S1W-5936 on 6 April 2000, what alternative solutions were considered for the provision of car parking for the Holyrood complex and what the comparative costs of each solution were.

Sir David Steel: The original provision of 135 car parking spaces for the Parliament building was influenced primarily by security considerations which recommended a secure space for each MSP, and also by building regulations which requires a proportionate number of spaces to be provided for the disabled, in this case six spaces. Following a survey of MSP’s, and after weighing up both security and environmental considerations the SPCB decided that the number could sensibly be reduced to 65 while still retaining six spaces for the disabled. This decision was reported to MSPs in SPCB Report No. 3 of December 1999.

Holyrood Project

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer, further to his answer to question S1W-5936 on 6 April 2000, what alternative solutions were considered for the construction of foundations for the Holyrood complex and what the comparative costs of each solution were.

Sir David Steel: The ground conditions on the Holyrood site together with the physical properties of the proposed Parliament building dictate the types of foundations which can be used. The structural engineer’s professional judgement was that the most suitable and cost-effective solution for the Holyrood site was to use a combination of "piles" and "pads" foundation systems.

Holyrood Project

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer,  further to his answer to question S1W-5938 on 6 April 2000, what the current base works cost estimate is for the Holyrood Project; when this figure was last contractually altered for the purpose of calculating the fees of the design team; what the dates were of any previous alteration to this figure, and on whose authority any previous alterations to this figure were made.

Sir David Steel: The current base works cost estimate for the Holyrood Project is £108 million. This figure was agreed by Parliament following the Holyrood Project debate on 5 April 2000. The previous base works cost estimate was £62 million and was also agreed by Parliament following the first Holyrood Project debate on 17 June 1999. The Design Team fees will be adjusted in line with the latest change.

Parliamentary Questions

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will publish the methodology of the computer programme that selects oral parliamentary questions.

Sir David Steel: The computerised random selection of questions for Question Time takes place on Wednesday each week, as soon as possible after 2pm. The Visual Basic random number generator (a function of the programming language that underpins the Word template) utilises a variable derived from the current date to create and assign a random number to each question in turn. The questions are then sorted in ascending order of their attached random number. On average between 50 and 60 questions are lodged each week for Question Time, so each question has approximately a 50% chance of being selected. First Minister’s questions are not of course selected by this method.